You're talking 'rubbish', judge tells far-right activist Neil Erikson

13 March 2018 — 12:01pm

Far-right activist Neil Erikson has been chastised by a Melbourne judge for talking "rubbish" and creating stunts simply because he enjoys media attention.

He appeared in the Federal Circuit Court on Tuesday to find out whether he'd be punished for contempt linked to an online inflammatory video in which former senator Sam Dastyari was called a "terrorist".

Erikson, a convicted stalker and racial vilifier who is linked to far-right groups Patriot Blue and United Patriots, had published the video footage and posted photos on his Twitter page, defying court orders.

He was taken to court in December by his previous employers Toll, who claimed Erikson wore their uniform in his videos to damage their brand.

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He was found guilty of contempt for breaking an order that he not publish photos or footage showing himself wearing clothes emblazoned with Toll's logo.

Erikson appeared in court on Tuesday wearing a Toll vest, but said it was his property, having bought it at an op shop last week for $2.

Judge Suzanne Jones told him the move was "childish" and suggested he remove the vest and throw it in the rubbish.

Erikson replied by asking if he had to remove it.

In his $2 op-shop Toll top, Neil Erikson leaves court on Tuesday.Credit:Jason South

"You can keep wearing it but you just enjoy the media attention," Judge Jones said.

Erikson said that wasn't true.

"I'm just punching up against big corporations," he said.

"That's just rubbish," Judge Jones replied.

"You're just going to keep on with this behaviour."

Erikson argued he'd made a "really conscious effort" to comply with the court orders, and that it was an "oversight" material had been left on his YouTube and Twitter pages because he had so many social media accounts.

"I respect this court, I respect your authority," he said to the judge.

"I made a lot of effort to remove all the videos and posts.

"There was a lot of video where Toll shirts were in the footage and I removed them all."

Erikson argued he should not be punished as he was an unemployed forklift driver, couldn't pay a fine and didn't have anything of value to be repossessed.

However, Toll lawyer Myles Tehan argued Erikson had appeared in videos where he'd talked "about going off to work".

Erikson stopped working for Toll in 2014 but worked for them again in Tasmania in 2017 before being sacked.